Problems · NHTSA complaints
1997 Toyota Tercel problems
Owners filed 23 complaints about the 1997 Toyota Tercel with NHTSA between Jan 1997 and Jan 2019. The most-cited component is air bags (9).
Complaints
23
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
7
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags9
- Seat belts4
- Engine and engine cooling4
- Tires3
- Suspension2
- Service brakes, hydraulic2
- Visibility1
- Seats1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
3
4
2
2
4
1
4
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 3 |
| 1998 | 4 |
| 1999 | 2 |
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 0 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Air bags
9 reports5 crashes
“WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS PASSING THROUGH AND BOTH VEHICLE COLLIDED.UPON IMPACT AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK”
Seat belts
4 reports2 crashes
“BOTH THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLES AREN'T WORKING PROPERLY. SOMETIMES WHEN YOU THINK YOU'RE BUCKLED IN THE SEAT BELT WILL RELEASE ALL OF A SUDDEN.”
Engine and engine cooling
4 reports
“WHILE I WAS ADDING OIL TO THE ENGINE OF MY 1997 TOYOTA TERCEL, I NOTICED A BOLT ATTACHING THE BELT ASSEMBLY TO THE ENGINE WAS STICKING OUT 4 OR 5 INCHES PAST THE BELT ASSEMBLY, RUBBING AGAINST A HOSE. IT DIDN'T LOOK RIGHT, SO I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO TIGHTENED IT BACK UP. HE SAID THE BOLT HAD JUST "WORKED ITSELF LOOSE". MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS LOOSE BOLT IS INDICATIVE OF A MORE SERIOUS PROBLEM, OR THAT SOMEONE HAS BEEN TAMPERING WITH MY CAR. THE CAR HAS AROUND 159,000 MILES ON IT. *TR”
Tires
3 reports
“THE ENTIRE TIRE JUST BLEW APART. BOTH SIDWALLS CAME AWAY FROM THE TREAD. I HAVE PICTURES I CAN EMAIL IF ANYBODY WANTS THEM.*AK”
Suspension
2 reports
“WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY FRONT BALL JOINTS SNAPPED, CAUSING OTHER PROBLEMS, INCLUDING RUPTURE OF BRAKE LINES. *AK”
Service brakes, hydraulic
2 reports
“BRAKES FAILED”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.